Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Before what’s supposed to be Mike Holmgren’s final season in Seattle, he’s already talking about coming back to be the head coach elsewhere. On Wednesday, he was asked about whether he’d return to the NFL as a coach and/or GM. He had this to say:
“Right in the back of my (mind), that little itch I can’t scratch, it’s still there,” Holmgren said. “Maybe someday.”As we all know, itches requiring scratching ASAP, lest you go totally insane. Holmgren has said he wants to take at least one year off after the season. But there’s a lot of time between now and training camp, and that itch could turn into a horrible burning sensation that requires prescription strength ointment. Not that I’d know or anything.Asked if he wanted to coach another season, Holmgren wouldn’t bite.
“I’m not getting into specifics,” he said. “We’re just talking about itches here.”
What I’m trying to say is that it seems entirely possible that in the coming months, Holmgren could decide he wants to continue coaching next season. This brings us to possible suitors, of which there is one obvious option: Washington.
It’s being discussed over at my other site currently, and Washington Post's Skins beat writer Jason La Canfora addressed the possibility at length earlier this week -- before Holmgren ever started talking about itches. Hiring Holmgren seems entirely possible for several reasons: 1) Jim Zorn is quickly falling out of favor in D.C. after seeing his team totally implode over the second half of the season; 2) Zorn could be demoted to offensive coordinator, a job that better suits him right now anyway; 3) The team wouldn't have to totally rebuild and install (another) new system -- they'd still use the west coast; 4) The team could finally rid itself of the poison that is Vinny Cerrato and allow Holmgren to make the personnel decisions, as he has in Seattle; 5) It’s the exact type of big-name-splash that Dan Synder loves to make, something he didn’t get with the tiny ripple hiring Zorn caused; 6) Holmgren has proven himself a winner for two different franchises.
Obviously, this is nothing more than rumor-mongering at this point, but it’ll certainly be an interesting offseason for team’s in need of a new coach (of which, there are plenty) with names like Cower and Holmgren floating around.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Uh, Seattle never got over the hump until Holmgren was relegated back to just being coach, not coach/GM. That being said, and being a Cowboys fan, it sounds great to me.
by Bacon99 on Dec 19, 2008 11:52 AM EST reply actions
I’d agree that if he was going to the Skins, they’d want him as just a coach and not both GM and coach. However, no one — NO ONE — could do a worse job with personnel than Cerrato, so it would be a step up regardless.
by cmottram on Dec 19, 2008 12:07 PM EST reply actions
I can’t imagine Holmgren wanting to work for Dan Snyder in any way, shape, or form.
I’m thinking San Francisco would be a better fit for Holmgren. With Singletary taking the lead there, Holmgren could work as a GM and get the pieces together that the 49ers truly need (Depth).
The only hang up is making sure that idiot of an owner (49ers) stays out of it and lets Holmgren run the football ops.
by fan82 on Dec 19, 2008 12:10 PM EST reply actions
Holmgren could definitely make some progress at Washington with Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis behind the line. As a Cowboy fan, I don’t want to see him that often.
by zpwilson on Dec 19, 2008 12:44 PM EST reply actions
Wait. He says he "has an itch"? That sounds sooooooo familiar, like I’ve heard that before… Oh. Right. Favre.
Any chance he’s pulling everyone’s chain and making fun of Favre?
by darnott on Dec 19, 2008 1:21 PM EST reply actions
Holmgren just doesnt want to go out a big loser, but it is inevitable. It’s the seattle way.
by Kato the Drainer on Dec 19, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions
Why wouldn’t he come to Washington as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive coordinator? It doesn’t have to be a head coach does it? Don’t give me any of that "I was a head coach so I only want to be a head coach" B.S. – many former Head Coaches are now coordinators.
From a Washington Redskins standpoint, that type of dysfunctional family situation is par for the course.
by Skinzfan on Dec 19, 2008 3:57 PM EST reply actions
Holmgren and Reid in the same division, that would be weird. Kinda like that old star trek where the guy was fighting his own double…
Still Holmgren deserves going out better than the team he has this year.
by GeoX on Dec 19, 2008 6:27 PM EST reply actions
ugh. This is all nonsense and until the Skins pull their head out, rumors and baseless articles such as this one will continue to be posted and talked about.I would welcome Holmgren to DC in a big way, but it ain’t gonna happen. NO WAY, NO HOW. Holmgren working for lil Danny Boy? Ha. That would hardly last an off season before Snyder would get tired on not having ANY say in personnel decisions. Why do you think Zorn is HC anyway. Because Snyder has a hand over him and he knows it.The only thing I’m happy about at this point is that I’m not a part of Raider nation.
by txskinsfan on Dec 20, 2008 12:21 PM EST reply actions
"rumors and baseless articles such as this one will continue to be posted and talked about."
This is a blog post, not an article. And I’m fairly certain I admit it’s just rumor mongering. I was simply pointing out that Holmgren to D.C. would make sense and, as you said txskinsfan, be a welcome change to many fans, including myself.
by cmottram on Dec 20, 2008 12:23 PM EST reply actions
Let’s put a real bone out there. The Pack are really hurting in the coaching department. That being side, I have to agree with a Skins fan. I don’t think Holmgren and Snyder would work. Particularly someone who knows football via someone who does not. Same problem at GB. I’m not sure what Thompson wants in a coach. It certainly isn’t McCarthy. Actually would be nice to see Holmgren come back and take over the coaching for 2-3 with a stipulation package a guarentee for the GM spot. Now that would make sense.
by SINROSSCO on Dec 20, 2008 12:32 PM EST reply actions
Let’s put a real bone out there. The Pack are really hurting in the coaching department. That being said would work. Particularly someone who knows football via someone who does not. Same problem at GB. I’m not sure what Thompson wants in a coach. It certainly isn’t McCarthy. Actually would be nice to see Holmgren come back and take over the coaching for 2-3 with a stipulation package a guarentee for the GM spot. Now that would make sense.
by SINROSSCO on Dec 20, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions
Change item 11. That being side, to said.
Delete 12.
by SINROSSCO on Dec 20, 2008 12:35 PM EST reply actions
what about holmgren in clevland , i think he and shottenheimer would make a great team with evaluation in talent , plus mike is good with gb what about him and brady quin that would be intresting , brett farve wouldnt say no to that ill bet .
i think that would be real intreaging along with him in washington but the skins need to stop changing coaches , like stienbrenner and billy martin , once torre got in there he won , and he also won with bob lemon .
but i like the clev matchup , san fran should hire mike singletarry , dont know why dave letterman is making fun of him ,
holmgren has already admitted he doesnt like the gm spot as long as the right person is there .
by haggard41 on Dec 20, 2008 1:28 PM EST reply actions
Am I the only person around — and the only one who’s been in the Pacific NW since 96, where we’re forced to actually watch the Seahawks on our TVs if we wanted to watch the NFL (before NFL Network came around, anyway) — who thinks that it would be a GREAT day for the NFL when Holmgren retires and stays retired, and that any franchise that hires him can guarantee they will never ever ever again win on the opening day of the season?
Yeah, the guy had a few good years grooming QB’s with Green Bay … the reputation from actually coaching Seattle to 9 or so years of frustration, and one year of success (that nevertheless ended in incredible frustration, with knowing that the refs stole one TD from the ’Hawks and yet also knowing they had no possibility of success against the Steelers flea-flicker) is entirely over-rated. I have no idea why you people consider him a credible, desirable coaching candidate anywhere else …
well maybe Notre Dame or U of Washington …
by featherfamily on Dec 21, 2008 3:34 AM EST reply actions
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